Associate Professor
University of Idaho
Karl Rink specializes in the design, performance, and reliability of energetic materials, components, and systems including detonators, primers, initiators, impulse cartridges, and gas generators. In particular, his research is focused on the use of radioisotope tracer techniques to study the hermetic integrity of energetic devices and their associated microelectronic components. Dr. Rink is a member of a number of technical societies, and he currently serves as chair of the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics (AIAA) Energetic Systems and Components Technical Committee. Dr. Rink currently holds 49 U.S. patents related to automotive airbag technology and was named an Outstanding Mechanical Engineer by Purdue University in 2000 and an Associate Fellow of the AIAA in 2007.